Bedding rose plant named ‘MEIDYCEUS’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of bedding rose plant, herein referred to by its cultivar name, ‘MEIDYCEUS’, is provided which forms on a nearly continuous basis attractive, cup shaped, very pure white double flowers. Attractive, glossy foliage is formed, which contrasts beautifully with the blossoms. A bushy growth habit is displayed. The disease tolerance is very good, particularly against black spot and  Oidium . The new variety is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

Botanical/commercial classification:

Latin name: Rosa hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘MEIDYCEUS’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Plant Breeders' Right ApplicationNumber 2019/2397, which was filed at Community Plant Variety Office inthe European Union on Sep. 24, 2019, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference for all purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida plant was created by artificialpollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had beenstudied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the ‘THEFAIRY’ variety (non-patented). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent)was the ‘AUSMAS’ variety (non-patented).

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:‘THE FAIRY’ x ‘AUSMAS’

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of rose plant of the present inventionpossesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) forms attractive, cup shaped, very pure white double        flowers,    -   (b) forms attractive, glossy foliage, and    -   (c) exhibits good resistance to diseases, particularly against        black spot and Oidium.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. Itcan be grown to advantage as ornamentation in parks, gardens, publicareas, and in residential settings. Accordingly, the plant isparticularly well suited for growing in the landscape.

The new variety of the present invention can readily be distinguishedfrom its ancestors. More specifically, the ‘THE FAIRY’ variety (i.e.,the seed parent) displays pink colored blossoms and the ‘AUSMAS’ variety(i.e., the pollen parent) displays yellow colored blossoms, whereas thenew variety displays very pure white colored flowers. Moreover, the newvariety can be readily distinguished from other similar non-parentalvarieties. For example, the ‘Meiradena’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No.26,790) displays less petals and a less pure white flower color comparedto the new variety.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in LeCannet des Maures, Var, France by a number of routes, including softwoodcuttings and grafting t-bud. Asexual propagation by the above-mentionedtechniques in Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France has shown that thecharacteristics of the new variety are stable and are strictlytransmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation toanother. Accordingly, the new variety undergoes asexual propagation in atrue-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘MEIDYCEUS’.

The first offer for sale of the new variety was Mar. 31, 2019 in Franceby the inventor or another who obtained the new variety directly orindirectly from the inventor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph of FIG. 1 shows as nearly true as it isreasonably possible to make the same, in a color illustration of thischaracter, typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. Therose plants of the new variety were approximately two years of age andwere observed during July while budded on Rosa Laxa and growing outdoorsat Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters areindicated at the bottom of FIG. 1.

Element 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot.

Element 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening ofthe sepals.

Element 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals.

Element 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals.

Element 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening.

Element 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse.

Element 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse.

Element 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—planview—obverse.

Element 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—planview—reverse.

Element 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showingarrangement of the stamens and pistils.

Element 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showingarrangement of the pistils (stamens removed).

Element 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem.

Element 13—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with 3 leaflets—planview—under surface.

Element 14—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with 5 leaflets—planview—under surface.

Element 15—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with 3 leaflets—planview—upper surface.

Element 15—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with 5 leaflets—planview—upper surface.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart, 2001 edition), London,England. The terminology which precedes reference to the chart has beenadded to indicate the corresponding color in more common terms. Thedescription is based on the observation of two-year-old specimens of thenew variety during July while budded on Rosa Laxa and growing outdoorsat Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France.

-   Commercial classification: Bedding Rose Plant.-   Plant:    -   -   Habit.—Bushy.        -   Height.—Typically 60 cm to 80 cm on average.        -   Width.—Typically 60 cm to 80 cm on average.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—Young stems: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146B. —            adult wood: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146B.        -   Length of main stem.—Typically 30 cm to 40 cm on average.        -   Young shoots.—Anthocyanin coloration: medium/weak intensity            and only on the reverse side of the foliage and on the            petiole rachis, commonly near Greyed-Red Group 178A.        -   Thorns.—Configuration on adult stems: upright and elongated            on the upper surface and slightly concave on the under            surface. — long prickles — quantity: commonly approximately            6 thorns per 10 cm long young stem and commonly 6 thorns per            10 cm long adult stem. — long prickles — base shape: oval. —            long prickles — size: approximately 1.1 cm in length on            average on young stems and approximately 1.0 cm on adult            stems. — long prickles — color commonly near Greyed-Orange            Group 164B on young stems and commonly near Greyed-Orange            Group 166C on adult stems. — small prickles (<1.0 cm) —            quantity: commonly absent.-   Foliage:    -   -   General appearance.—Dense with a glossy aspect.        -   Number of leaflets.—3, 5, and 7; most often 5 or 7.        -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: approximately 5.5 cm on average. —            width: approximately 3.4 cm on average.        -   Entire leaf.—Length: approximately 9.5 cm on average. —            width: approximately 5.5 cm on average.        -   New foliage.—Upper surface color: commonly near Yellow-Green            Group 146B. — under surface color: commonly near            Yellow-Green Group 146C. — anthocyanin coloration: absent.        -   Adult foliage.—Upper surface color: commonly near            Yellow-Green Group 147A. — under surface color: commonly            near Yellow-Green Group 147B. — anthocyanin coloration:            absent.-   Leaflets:    -   -   Shape.—Tip: acuminate. — base: obtuse.        -   Glossiness of upper surface.—Medium intensity.        -   Texture.—Leathery.        -   General appearance.—Oval.        -   Edge.—Slightly denticulate.        -   Serration.—Small and single.        -   Undulation on the margin.—Medium.        -   Petiole rachis.—Color of upper surface: commonly near            Yellow-Green Group 148B. — color of under surface: commonly            near Yellow-Green Group 148A. — prickles: few in amount,            small size, color is commonly near Yellow-Green Group 148A.        -   Petioles.—Upper surface: no glandular. — under surface: few            prickles. — color of upper surface: commonly near            Yellow-Green Group 148A. — color of under surface: commonly            near Yellow-Green Group 148B. — petiole length of terminal            leaflet: approximately 2.4 cm on average.        -   Stipules.—General appearance: adnate, pectinate and narrow.            — length: approximately 1.7 cm on average. — width:            approximately 0.7 cm on average. — color of upper surface:            commonly near Yellow-Green Group 148B. — color of under            surface: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 148A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers per stem.—Generally between 3 to 15            flowers per stem.        -   Lastingness of the bloom.—Cut flower: approximately 4 days            on average. — on the plant: approximately 12 days on            average.        -   Bud.—Shape: conical. — size: medium. — length: approximately            2.1 cm on average. — width: approximately 1.7 cm on average.            — color as calyx breaks: — upper surface: commonly near            White Group 155B. — under surface: commonly near White Group            155B.        -   Sepals.—Length: approximately 1.5 cm on average. — width:            approximately 0.7 cm on average. — shape: — at the top:            narrow and longish. — at the base: upright. — extensions:            weak. — upper surface: — texture: tomentous. — color:            commonly near Yellow-Green Group 148C. — under surface: —            texture: smooth. — color: commonly near Yellow-Green Group            146C.        -   Receptacle.—Color: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146C. —            length: approximately 0.6 cm on average. — width:            approximately 0.5 cm on average. — surface: smooth. — shape:            funnel shaped.        -   Peduncle.—Length: approximately 4.1 cm on average. — width:            approximately 0.2 cm on average. — surface: pubescent. —            color: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146C.        -   Flower.—Average size when fully open: commonly between 5.0            to 7.0 cm on average. — depth: typically 3.0 cm to 4.0 cm on            average. — shape: cup shaped, round when viewed from the            top. — number of petals under normal conditions:            approximately 55 to 63 petals on average. — shape of the            petal: external petals are rounded; internal petals are egg            shaped. — base: obtuse. — top: rounded. — petal margin:            smooth. — texture of the petal: leathery. — petal length:            approximately 3.7 cm on average. — petal width:            approximately 3.0 cm on average. — petal arrangement:            imbricated without petaloids. — petal drop: petals drop off            cleanly before drying. — fragrance: none. color when            opening: spot at the base: absent. — upper surface of the            flower: commonly near White Group 155B. — under surface of            the flower: commonly near White Group 155B. — color of the            open flower: — spot at the base: absent. — upper surface of            the flower: commonly near White Group 155B. — under surface            of the flower: commonly near White Group 155B. — anthers:            number is approximately 103 on average, length is            approximately 0.1 cm on average, coloration is commonly near            Yellow-Orange Group 21B, and arrangement is regular around            styles. — filaments: length is approximately 0.3 cm on            average and coloration is commonly near Yellow-Orange Group            20A. — styles: length is approximately 0.1 cm on average,            coloration is commonly near Yellow Group 3C, and number is            approximately 71 on average. — stigmas: size is            approximately 0.2 cm on average and coloration is commonly            near Yellow Group 3D. — pollen: not available at this stage.            — hips: not available at this stage.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Strong.        -   Blooming.—Early in the season, very abundant and nearly            continuous, typical from May to October in France.        -   USDA hardiness zone.—Zone 5.        -   Tolerance to disease.—Very good, and particularly against            black spot (Diplocarpon rosae) and powdery mildew (Oidium).

The new ‘MEIDYCEUS’ variety has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that thephenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensityand duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant characterized bythe following combination of characteristics: (a) forms attractive, cupshaped, very pure white double flowers, (b) forms attractive, glossyfoliage, and (c) exhibits good resistance to diseases, particularlyagainst black spot and Oidium; substantially as herein shown anddescribed.